AUBURN, Alabama -- Marcus Davis knew he had a chance before Nick Marshall ever took the snap.

The inside receiver in a trips look to the right, Davis read Arkansas State's coverage -- lined up in head-to-head, the Red Wolves dropped into a Cover-3 look, with the high safety shifting to the trips side before the snap.

All the freshman had to do was make the catch if Marshall made the throw.

"I knew I had a chance of getting it because of how the defense was set up," Davis said. "I just ran my route and made the play when it came."

At the snap, Davis released off the line, running seven yards before taking a skinny post to the inside of the field.

The freshman had made his read correctly. Arkansas State's zone had a gap, and Marshall fired a strike over the middle.

"Everything slowed down for me," Davis said. "I just focused on the ball in the air."

Davis leaped to haul in the 18-yard touchdown grab, the first catch of his career at Auburn and the first Tiger to catch a touchdown on the first reception of his career since Kiehl Frazier scored on a quarterback throwback against Louisiana-Monroe last season.

For a freshman whose playing time is likely to increase as the season progresses, it was a big moment, showing the coaches that he can respond in the moment.

Davis played only a few snaps in the season-opener against Washington State, but he knew he'd have a chance to make a bigger impact against the Red Wolves, a statement made obvious by his presence on the field during the Tigers' opening drive.

"They just wanted me fresh, to get a feel of the college level," Davis said. "I feel like my playing time will continue to increase."

Auburn's smallest receiver at 5-foot-9, 176 pounds, Davis is another converted high school quarterback playing in the slot in the Tigers' hurry-up, no-huddle offense.

Tigers head coach Gus Malzahn likes former high school quarterbacks because of their ability to read defenses.

Auburn receiver Marcus Davis hauls in an 18-yard touchdown pass from Nick Marshall for the first catch of his Tigers career Saturday night. (Julie Bennett/jbennett@al.com)

Davis leaned on that knowledge early in training camp as he picked up the offense.

"It helped me out big-time, especially with defenses, just to see where to go, where the ball might come, how to sit in holes and everything," Davis said.

Davis caught another pass on Saturday night, a quick throw he turned into a 5-yard gain, although he fumbled at the end of the play, a big point of emphasis in Auburn's offense.

But with Auburn still figuring out its receiver rotation heading into SEC play, expect the freshman to get more chances to show what he can do.

"We've got to have guys everywhere," offensive coordinator Rhett Lashlee said. "If we put them in the game, we believe in them."